Wednesday Words for September 19, 2012
from Pastor Carrie Smith
Thought for the Day:
“The point of church isn't to get people to come to church." "No?" said Steve, cocking an eyebrow. "What is it?" It seemed obvious to me. "To feed them, so they can go out and, you know, be Jesus."
“Take this Bread: A Radical Conversion” by Sara Miles
In our prayers:
The Stefan family at the death of Wendy Stefan, whose funeral was Monday.
The Cima and Pierzina families at the death of Jean, whose funeral is on Friday at 11 am (visitation at DeFiore-Jorgenson Funeral Home, Thursday 4-8 pm).
And prayers for the Love and Zimmerman families at the death of Paul Love. A visitation for Paul will be at Bethany Friday evening from 5-7 pm. His funeral will be Saturday at Zion Lutheran in Ottawa, Illinois.
We also pray for Bentley, Jonathan, and Michelle—all born prematurely, and all needing our prayers for healing and strength.
Three funerals in one week is so much grief for one community to bear. We mourn with each of these families, holding them in our prayers and walking with them. Many of you are preparing meals, serving as ushers and communion servers for the services, and walking with your sisters and brothers in Christ as they mourn. I give thanks to God for each of you! You are the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
This Sunday at Bethany:
We will celebrate 5 baptisms (shared between the 9 and 10:45 am services): Gianna, Cali, Finley, Thomas, and Courtney. Thanks be to God!
We also welcome 32 new members! Look for their profiles in the next newsletter.
5 pm: The 2012 Bethany Women's Event. We're so excited to have 125 women registered. See you then!
Last night at the Bethany Council meeting, I shared my report, which was called “Bethany by the Numbers.” I thought you might like to see it, too. Here you go!
BETHANY BY THE NUMBERS
Funerals this week: 3
Funerals so far this year: 12
Funerals in 2011: 6
Youth at the Shaving Cream Whiffle Ball Kick-Off Event: 14
Members of new Youth Council: 8
Sacristans installed: 5
Hospitality hosts trained: 28
Attendance at the outdoor/indoor service: 160+
Confirmation students: 38
Sunday School students registered: 96
Baptisms this week: 5
New members in September: 32
New Members this year: 54
Women registered for the Women’s Event: 125
Attendees at the first Theology on Tap: 17
Back-to-Church Bluegrass Round-Up Attendance: 405
Years of PADS at Bethany: 25
1st Wednesday Worship Attendance: 27
Sunday’s 7:45 am attendance: 27
African Children’s Choir members arriving next week: 28
Families hosting the African Children’s Choir: 8
***
This week's Gospel text: Mark 9:30-37
30They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He (Jesus) did not want anyone to know it; 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
33Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Peace,
+ Pastor Carrie Smith
